Open top swing

ABSTRACT

An open top baby swing having a frame which in turn includes legs and a base and wherein the legs of the frame extend from only a front portion of the base. A transition from the base to the legs is integral so as to provide a solid frame. Upper ends of the transition are tied together with a cross member. A swing mechanism for controlling swinging of the baby seat includes two drive trains isolated from each other by a coil spring. Any movement or ceasing thereof by one end of the first drive train exerts a respective movement or ceasing thereof on the end of the coil spring to which the other end of the first drive train is engaged, and vice versa. Any movement or ceasing thereof by one end of the second drive train exerts a respective movement or ceasing thereof on the end of the coil spring to which the other end of the second drive train is engaged, and vice versa. A control unit for the swing mechanism includes a bank of lights running in a line that is user friendly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to baby swings and, moreparticularly, to open top swings.

[0002] An open top swing is a baby swing having no crossbar over a topportion of the swing. The open top provides a convenient and safe way topick up an infant or toddler. The open top is convenient because thecaregiver can approach the infant easily to provide care. The open topis safe because, without a crossbar across the top of the swing, placingthe infant or toddler in the baby seat and taking the infant or toddlerout of the baby seat can be done easily and without a struggle. Forexample, the feet of a toddler or infant may get caught in a portion ofthe seat, especially the feet of a struggling toddler or a sleepinginfant. With a conventional baby swing having a top extending crossbar,a struggling toddler or sleeping child would be lifted a slight way upso that his or her feet would clear the seat and then liftedhorizontally across the baby seat so as not to hit the head of the childon the underside of the crossbar. However, with an open top swing, thehorizontal lifting or the back-straining lift change from a verticallift to a horizontal lift is unnecessary because the child may be liftedstraight up out of the seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A feature of the present invention is the provision in an opentop swing having no crossbar across the top of the swing, of the babyseat being supported relative to the floor solely by two legs extendingfrom a front portion of a base on the floor.

[0004] Another feature of the present invention is the provision in suchan open top swing of the two legs curving upwardly and rearwardly so asto provide a sweeping look to the open top swing.

[0005] Another feature of the present invention is the provision in suchan open top swing, of a transition from the base to the legs beingintegral so as to provide solid support for the two legs.

[0006] Another feature of the present invention is the provision in suchan open top swing, of a base cross member extending between the integraltransition and engaging the integral transition at a location spacedfrom the floor.

[0007] Another feature of the present invention is the provision in anopen top swing having no crossbar across the top of the swing, of aswing mechanism having first and second drive trains and a coil springbetween the drive trains, wherein a movement or a ceasing of a movementat the end of the first drive train distal to the coil spring bringsabout an immediate movement or ceasing of movement to a first end of thecoil spring and wherein a movement or a ceasing of a movement at the endof the second drive train distal to the coil spring brings about animmediate movement or ceasing of movement to a second end of the coilspring such that adjacent elements of the drive trains are fixed to eachother and immediate movement or a ceasing of movement of one elementimmediately brings about a movement or a ceasing of movement of itsadjacent element.

[0008] Another feature of the present invention is the provision in anopen top swing having no cross bar across the top of the swing, of acontrol unit that has a display of lights running in a line so that acaregiver can easily determine how fast the swing is swinging and caneasily remember the rate of swinging preferred by the child.

[0009] An advantage of the invention is that it is safe. The provisionof an integral transition between the base and the leg provides solidsupport for the baby swinging in the baby seat. A front crossbar engagesthe integral transition at the upper part of the integral transition.The base is relatively wide and deep.

[0010] Another advantage of the present invention is that the frame ofthe open top swing is relatively inexpensive and simple to manufactureand assemble.

[0011] Another advantage of the present invention is that the swingmechanism is simple and has relatively few parts.

[0012] Another advantage of the present invention is that the controlunit is simple to understand, operate and read.

[0013] Another advantage of the present invention is that it retains theconventional feature of an open top swing, the absence of a crossbaracross the top.

[0014] Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a“middle” crossbar that has a crossbar portion that engages the legs at alocation spaced from the floor and, at the same time, has anothercrossbar portion that lies on the floor.

[0015] Another advantage of the present invention is that it isaesthetic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present open top swing.

[0017]FIG. 2 shows a perspective, exploded view of the swing mechanismfor the open top swing of FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 3 shows a detail view of the hanger mount of the swingmechanism of FIG. 2.

[0019]FIG. 4 shows a detail view of the control panel for the open topswing of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION

[0020] As shown by FIG. 2, the swing mechanism of the present inventionis generally designated by reference number 10. The swing mechanism 10includes a housing 12. An electric motor 14 is fixed to the housing 12with a bracket 16. A worm gear 18 extends from and is immediately drivenby the motor 14. A rotating gear 20 is pivotally affixed to the housing12 and includes a crank 22. The crank 22 immediately drives an axledrive 24 by engaging a slot 26 formed in the axle drive 24. The axledrive 24 is mounted to the housing 12 via a bearing 28. The axle drive24 fixedly receives and immediately drives an axle 30. The axle 30 issplined and an aperture 32 in the axle drive 24 is formed to receive thespline of the axle 30 such that there is no rotation or oscillationbetween the axle 30 and the axle drive 24. A disk shaped cap 34 alsoreceives the axle 30 in a nonrotating, fixed fashion. The disk shapedcap 34 includes an aperture 36 formed to receive the spline of the axle30 such that there is no rotation or oscillation between the axle 30 andthe disk shaped cap 34 and such that the axle 30 immediately drives thecap 34. The disk shaped cap 34 includes a periphery that includes anaperture 38. Aperture 38 receives one pin like end 40 of an integralcoil spring 42 such that the cap 34 immediately drives end 40 of thecoil spring 42. Coil spring 42 includes an opposite pin like end 44.This opposite pin like end 44 is received in an aperture 46 (please seeFIG. 3) that is formed in a hanger mount 48 such that end 44 immediatelydrives hanger mount 48. Hanger mount 48 has a tube like end 50 forreceiving the proximal end of a hanger 66 such that mount 48 immediatelydrives hanger 66. The distal end of the hanger 66 is engaged to a babyseat 68. Hanger mount 48 has a pair of annular recesses 52 and 53.

[0021] Outer annular recess 52 receives the coil spring 42. Hanger mount48 further includes a pair of bearings 56 that are received in the innerannular recess 53. Axle 30 is received in the bearings 56 such thathanger mount 48 may oscillate relative to the axle 30. The disk shapedcap 34 closes off both of the annular recesses 52 and 53. The phrase“immediately driving” refers to where a movement or ceasing of movementby one adjacent element causes a respective movement or ceasing ofmovement in its adjacent element.

[0022] In other words, a first train of the swing mechanism 10 includeselectric motor 14, worm gear 18, rotating gear 20, a crank 22, axledrive 24, axle 30, disk shaped cap 34, and pin end 40. A rotation orceasing of rotation of worm gear 18 by electric motor 14 causes animmediate respective rotation or ceasing or rotation of pin end 40. Asecond drive train of the swing mechanism includes opposite pin end 44,hanger mount 48, tube-like end 50, hanger 66 and baby seat 68. Aswinging or a ceasing of swinging (such as by grabbing seat 68) causesan immediate respective oscillation or ceasing of oscillation of pin end44, which is isolated from pin end 40. When pin end 44 stopsoscillating, such as when seat 68 is grabbed, pin end 40 maintains itsoscillation by virtue of the coil between the ends 40 and 44, therebyminimizing strain on the electric motor 14. Further, if desired, coilspring 42 may be manufactured to be relatively rigid such that agrabbing of seat 68 results in the stopping force being transmittedthrough the second drive train through the spring 42 and through thefirst drive train to the motor 14 which is of sufficient quality tosafely and without breakdown withstand such force even for long periodsover which an otherwise swinging seat 68 is held.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, reference number 60 indicates in general theopen top swing. Housing 12 is shown, and a passive hanger mount 62 isshown. Arm or hanger 64 depends from hanger mount 62 and arm or hanger66 depends from hanger mount 48. The distal ends of hangers 64 and 66engage baby seat 68. Passive hanger mount 62 is pivotably fixed to ahousing 69. Housings 12 and 69 are mounted on a pair of support legs 70engaged to a rectangular shaped base 72. Base 72 includes four tubes orsupport members, consisting of a U-shaped front tube 74, generallyL-shaped side tubes 76 that extend both horizontally and vertically, anda U-shaped rear tube 78. A generally aesthetic member 80 is positionedover an integral transition portion of the side tubes 76. It should benoted that the member 80 provides some bracing support.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, a control panel 82 is provided for the swingmechanism 10 and is disposed on housing 12. The control panel 82includes two speed controls or switches 84 and 86. Speed control orswitch 84 increases the speed of electric motor 14 and speed control orswitch 86 decreases the speed of electric motor 14. Control panel 82further includes a switch 150 having a first musical rendition and aswitch 152 having a second and different musical rendition. Controlpanel 82 further includes an off switch 154, timer switch 156, speeddigital readout 158, a time or timer digital readout 160, and a bank orline of lights 162 which includes a lower light 164 and an upper light166. The circuitry for the off switch may be set so that turning theswitch 154 on or off turns on or off one or more of the motor 14, timer156 and music. Timer switch 156 may be set so as to turn on or off,after a chosen period of time, one or more of the motor 14 and music.Digital readout 158 may present in numerical form or alphabetical formor other character form the speed of electric motor 14. Digital readout160 may present in numerical form or alphabetical form or othercharacter form the time of day and/or the time period set by switch 156.The bank of lights 162 includes a lowermost individual light 164 and anuppermost individual light 166. The bank of lights 162 runs in astraight, vertical line and may be electrically associated with thespeed of the motor 14. When the motor 14 is off, the entire bank oflights 162 is off. When the motor 14 is running at a relatively slowspeed, only light 164 or its adjacent lights are lit. When the motor 14is running at a relatively high speed, the entire bank of lights 162 maybe on or a few of the upper lights, including light 166, may be off. Themore lights of bank 162 that are lit, the higher the speed the motor 14is running. Further, the lights of the bank 162 turn on and off inprogressive fashion one by one. For example, as speed increases, thelights turn on one by one starting with lower light 164. As speeddecreases starting from the fastest most speed, light 166 turns off andthen the adjacent light below it and then the other lights in turn, fromadjacent light to adjacent light, until light 164 turns off. The term“stop” on the control panel 82 is imprinted near light 164 to tell thecaregiver that the motor 14 is off when light 164 is off. Housing 12further includes a battery power source 168 and the bank of lights 162may indicate the life of the battery power source 168 instead of thespeed of motor 14. Where no lights are indicated, the power source 168may have insufficient power to operate the motor 14 or swing 60. Wherethe power source 168 has sufficient power, all of the lights of bank 162may be lit. Then, in turn, when the life of the power source decreases,the lights of bank 162 turn off one by one over time from light 166 tolight 164. In other words, the bank of lights 162 may be associated witha function (such as power or speed) and a value that indicates the lifeof a power source or the speed of a motor.

[0025] Front or cross tube 74 is U-shaped and includes a middle,floor-confronting member portion 100 and a pair of side member portions102. Each of the upper ends of the side member portions 102 is receivedin a first tube receptor 104 of a tube connector 106. Upper or male endsof side member portions 102 may include a pin biased outwardly so as toengage a hole formed in tube receptor 104. Tube connector 106 includes asecond tube receptor 108 that receives a front and upper end 110 of sidetube 76, which extends horizontally and vertically through brace 80.Upper end 110 of side tube 76 is female and receives a male end of lowerportion 112 of leg 70. Male end of lower portion 112 includes a pinbiased outwardly so as to engage a first hole formed in upper end 110 ofside tube 76 and so as to engage and further extend through a secondhole aligned with the first hole and formed in tube receptor 108. Upperend 110 of side tube 76 is female from a location 113 just above thetermination of a radius 114. The male end of lower portion 112 isreceived down to location 113 so as to provide a broad or elongateinteraction between legs 70 and side tubes 76. Since side tube 76 formsa portion of the side of base 72 and since side tube 76 forms a portionof the leg support for seat 68 relative to a floor, the portion of sidetube 76 extending through brace 80 and including top end 110 is referredto as an integral transition. It should be noted that side memberportions 102 of front tube 74 are engaged at a location well spaced fromthe floor to engage a location as far up the frame as possible so as tominimize side to side swaying of the open top swing 60. It should benoted that side member portions 102 then run down lower leg portion ortube end 110, and that middle portion 100 then runs across the floor toprovide open space for the open top swing 60. Each of the tubes or sidesupport members 76 includes a rear end portion 116 that includes a maleend that fits inside a female end 118 of rear tube 78. The male end ofportion 116 may include a pin biased outwardly so as to engage a holeformed in female end 118. Rear tube 78 extends through a pair of cornersupports 120. Comer supports 120, braces 80 and front tube 74 mayinclude nonskid feet 122.

[0026] It should be noted that legs 70 run, from lower portions 112,upwardly and rearwardly in a curvilinear fashion. More specifically, thelegs 70 run, from lower portions 112 in a curvilinear fashion, at agreater rate upwardly than rearwardly.

[0027] It should be noted that legs 70 provide the sole means of supportfor the baby seat 68 relative to the floor. In other words, the legs 70are engaged to the housings 12 and 69, which are in turn engaged to thearms or hangers 64, 66, which in turn at their distal ends are engagedto the baby seat 68. A cross brace 124 extends between the arms 64, 66to support the arms 64, 66 relative to each other and also support areclining of the back of seat 68.

[0028] It should be noted that both legs 70 and upper ends 110 of sidesupport members 76 are, in combination, the legs of open top swing 60since such elements provide support in a vertical fashion.

[0029] It should be noted that the baby seat 68 includes a lower face126 and that each of legs 70 includes an upper end portion 128 that runsinto its respective housing 12 or 69. Preferably, upper end or legportion 110 terminates at a height greater than one-half the distancefrom the floor (or a plane defined by rear tube 72 and middle supportmember portion 100) to the lower face 126 of baby seat 68, where suchheight is also less than where upper end portion 128 runs into itsrespective housing 12 or 69. More preferably, upper end or leg portion110 terminates at a height greater than two-thirds the distance from thefloor (or a plane defined by rear tube 72 and middle support memberportion 100) to the lower face 126 of baby seat 68, where such height isalso less than where upper end portion 128 runs into its respectivehousing 12 or 69. Such provides a broad interaction between leg portions110 and legs 70.

[0030] Preferably, the support member portions 102 of U-shaped crosssupport member 74 terminate at (and are engaged to leg portions 110 at)a height greater than one-half the distance from the floor (or a planedefined by rear tube 72 and middle support member portion 100) to thelower face 126 of baby seat 68, where such height is also less thanwhere upper end portion 128 runs into its respective housing 12 or 69.More preferably, the support member portions 102 of U-shaped crosssupport member 74 terminate at (and are engaged to leg portions 110 at)a height greater than two-thirds the distance from the floor (or a planedefined by rear tube 72 and middle support member portion 100) to thelower face 126 of baby seat 68, where such height is also less thanwhere upper end portion 128 runs into its respective housing 12 or 69.Such minimizes a side to side swaying of the open top swing 60 becausethe cross support provided by cross support 74 is located high in theframe of the open top swing 60. Such maximizes or retains the open spaceprovided by the frame of the open top swing 60 because middle portion100 of the cross support 74 remains on the floor.

[0031] It should be noted that a side section of the frame of the opentop swing 60 includes one of the legs 70 and the control unit 12 andthat another side section of the frame of the open top swing 60 includesthe other of the legs and the ornamental or passive unit 69. An openspace runs between these side sections. Preferably, this open space runsmore than one-half of the way down legs 70, more preferably two-thirdsof the way down legs 70, and most preferably all the way down to theupper edge of middle portion 100 of tube 74.

[0032] It should be noted that passive or ornamental housing or unit 69has the generally the same shape as housing or unit 12. Housing orlook-alike unit 69 is thinner in width than housing 12. Each of housings12 and 69 are generally triangular in shape with rounded corners. Eachof the housings 12 have an inner triangular face 130 with rounded cornerportions and an outer triangular face 132 with rounded corner portions.Each of the housings 12 and 69 are formed of two half sections that meetat a visible seam 134. Each of the housings 12 and 69 have a tubereceptor 136 extending from its respective housing to engage a male endof upper portion 128 of leg 70. The male end of upper portion 128 mayinclude a pin biased outwardly to engage a hole in tube receptor 136 forconnecting the legs 70 to the housing 12 and 69.

[0033] It should be further noted, if looking directly down upon theopen top swing 60 from above, that the base 72 is sufficiently deep suchthat a back of seat 68 is within the rear middle portion of tube 78 andsuch that a front of seat 68 is within middle portion 100. It should benoted further that the base 72 is sufficiently wide such that sides ofseat 68 are within side support members 76 if looking directly down uponthe open top swing 60 from above.

[0034] It should further be noted that the side member portions 102 offront tube 74 confront the outside surfaces of the top ends 110 of theside tubes 76 and that tube connectors 106 run outwardly from the topend 110 to the side member portions 102 of front tube 74. Such astructure is preferred over a structure where the side member portions102 confront the inner surfaces of the top ends 110 of the side tubes76. Such preferred structure provides a more stable swing 60 by in factstabilizing the support legs 70 and by minimizing any tendency for theupper ends of the support legs 70 to move inwardly toward each other.Also, such a preferred structure provides a longer floor-confrontingmiddle member portion 100 to confront a greater surface area of thefloor. Further, portions 102 include tabs that make contact with braces80 near middle front portions of brace 80 such that portions 102 engageside tubes 76 at a first location where the top ends 110 meet the tubeconnectors 106 and at a second location where the tabs make contact withthe braces 80.

[0035] Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied inother specific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiments described herein are to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to beindicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalents of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A baby swing, comprising: a) a base, wherein thebase includes a front portion; b) a first leg, wherein the first leg isengaged to the front portion of the base, wherein the first leg includesupper and lower portions, wherein the first leg extends upwardly andrearwardly in a curvilinear fashion between the upper and lowerportions; c) a second leg, wherein the second leg is engaged to thefront portion of the base, wherein the second leg includes upper andlower portions, wherein the second leg extends upwardly and rearwardlyin a curvilinear fashion between the upper and lower portions; d) afirst housing engaged to the upper portion of the first leg; e) a secondhousing engaged to the upper portion of the second leg; f) a first armpivotally joined to the first unit, wherein the first arm includes aproximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the first arm is swungdirectly by the first unit; g) a second arm pivotally joined to thesecond unit, wherein the second arm includes a proximal portion and adistal portion, wherein the second arm is swung indirectly by the firstunit; and h) a baby seat engaged to the distal portions of the arms,wherein the first and second legs solely provide support for the babyseat relative to the base.
 2. The baby swing according to claim 1,wherein the base includes a first side support member and a second sidesupport member, wherein the first side support member is integral withthe lower portion of the first leg and forms an acute angle therewith,wherein the second side support member is integral with the lowerportion of the second leg and forms an acute angle therewith to providean integral and therefore strong transition from the base to the legs.3. The baby swing according to claim 2, wherein each of the lowerportions of the first and second legs includes an upper end, and whereinthe upper ends are tied together with a cross member.
 4. The baby swingaccording to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a front U-shapedsupport member, wherein the front U-shaped support member includes amiddle member portion and a pair of first and second side memberportions, wherein the middle member portion confronts a surface on whichthe open top swing stands, wherein the first side member portion runsside-by-side up an outside surface of the lower portion of the first legand wherein the second side member portion runs side-by side up anoutside surface of the lower portion of the second leg, wherein thefirst side member includes a distal end which is engaged to the firstleg, and wherein the second side member includes a distal end which isengaged to the second leg.
 5. The baby swing according to claim 1,wherein the baby swing comprises a frame, wherein the frame comprisesthe base, the first and second legs, and the first and second units,wherein the frame comprises a first side section and a second sidesection, wherein the first side section comprises the first leg and thefirst unit, wherein the second side section comprises the second leg andthe second unit, wherein each of the first and second side sections ofthe frame comprises an upper portion, and wherein the frame is free ofcross supports extending between the upper portions of the side sectionsof the frame such that the baby swing is an open top baby swing.
 6. Thebaby swing according to claim 1, wherein the first housing comprises acontrol unit having a swing mechanism for swinging the swing and whereinthe second housing comprises a second unit wherein the second unit is alook-alike unit that has a generally similar appearance to the controlunit.